LaTonya Watson is in her third season as assistant coach and
recruiting coordinator for the American University women's
basketball program. Watson handles many components of AU's
basketball operations, including scheduling opponents, scouting,
organizing recruit travel and running community service projects.
Additionally, Watson is in charge of coaching American's perimeter
players.

Watson played a large part in American's success over the last
two seasons, which included a share of the Patriot League Regular
Season Championship in the 2009-10 campaign. Watson helped mentor
junior forward Michelle Kirk as she captured the school's first
ever Patriot League Player of the Year.

Watson spent nine years as an assistant at the University of
Colorado from 1996-2005. While with the Buffaloes, Watson helped
lead the team to a 152-92 overall record and five NCAA Tournament
appearances, including a spot in the Elite Eight in 2002. She
helped mentor 10 players who are currently playing professional
basketball, including 2002 WNBA draftee, Mandy Nightingale. Off the
court, Watson served as the academic liaison for Colorado. During
her tenure, her team enjoyed a 92% graduation rate.

"We are very fortunate to have LaTonya on our coaching staff,"
commented AU Head Coach Matt Corkery. "Her experience coaching NCAA
Tournament teams and recruiting at the Top 25 level is invaluable.
She is a tremendous role model and teacher for our
student-athletes."

Prior to arriving at AU, Watson spent two years as a math
instructor and head girls basketball coach at Chamblee Charter
(Ga.) High School. She led her squad to a 34-18 overall record.
Watson's team was named the DeKalb County AAA Team of the Month in
January 2008. Two of her student-athletes obtained college
basketball scholarships. Watson also spent a year coaching and
teaching at Meadowcreek High School (Ga.) and served as the co-head
coach of the Boulder Rockies Girls' Basketball Club in 2005.

Watson is a 1992 graduate of Eastern Michigan University, where
she majored in mathematics and minored in English and literature.
From 1988-92, she played point guard for EMU. Watson was named to
the 1989 Mid American Conference All-Freshman Team, the 1991
All-MAC Honorable Mention Team, and 1992 All-MAC Second Team. She
was also a three-time Academic All-Mid America Conference
selection. Watson ranks third in assists (446) and is the tenth
all-time leading scorer (1,296) in school history. She scored 36
points in a game, which ranks as the second highest single-game
output in EMU history.

She began her coaching career in 1992 as a graduate assistant at
Eastern Michigan. After the 1992-93 season, Watson coached the
girls' volleyball, basketball and track teams at Dunbar Middle
School in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1995, she took on the same
responsibilities at Dunbar High School.